Ask a Mormon Woman: Why Do Mormons Have So Many Kids?

1. We believe that we lived as spirit children of our Heavenly Father before we came to earth. We also believe that all of God’s children need to obtain a body to progress.

2. We believe that the commandment God gave to Adam and Eve to multiply and replenish the earth is still in effect.

3. Because of Jesus Christ’s Atonement, and through ordinances performed in temples, family relationships can continue beyond the grave. Children can be a source of joy and happiness not only in this life but in the life to come.

The most succinct document explaining our Church’s doctrines on children is The Family: A Proclamation to the World. Here are some quotes from that document that highlight what Mormons believe about children and family.

“All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.”

“In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.”

“We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force.”

“We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.”

“Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.”

“Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“…fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.”

The choice to bear and rear children is a sacred and personal one. There is absolutely no doctrine of our church that prescribes the number of children a couple should have. Agency, or the ability to choose (and the accountability for our choices) is a critical tenet of our faith. There are many LDS couples as well as single individuals who desperately long for children and family. Others consider personal circumstances like the health of the mother or financial restrictions that may influence family planning decisions.

Individual circumstances and choices vary but as we strive to be disciples of Jesus Christ we seek to follow His example of loving little children.

Mark 10:14 – Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: For such is the kingdom of God.

**Please note: The answers in “Ask a Mormon Woman” reflect the thoughts, perspectives, and experiences of individuals. Although here at Mormon Women: Who We Are, we strive to have our content consistent with the Church’s doctrine and teachings, we do not speak officially for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For official information about or from the Church, please visit www.mormon.org or www.lds.org.

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59 Comments

We know your perspective is shared by some. We simply disagree that the suffering people experience (which is real) is caused by people having children or is evidence that there is no God.

I don’t know if it helps any, but we as Mormons seek to use our time, money, human resources to help those who need clean water, food, and more. We don’t believe the answer is to stop having children, but to teach our children to look for those in need and help them.

Housekeeping note: As for your comment about how most can’t afford their children…that’s simply not your call or your business. Commentary like that violates our comment policies. Future such commentary will be edited or deleted.

yeah, I just saw an old high school friend announcing the pregnancy of her 6th child on facebook. her husband is a teacher and she works in the home as a full-time mother to five. I googled this question, because I was so curious why she would choose such a lifestyle. I know she was from a very large family, also. Now I see that it is her religion that shapes her life in so many ways, even down to having a big family and being broke.

American birth rates are at an all time low right now. As for Clean water and food- the world has enough -it’s getting it to the people, that is the problem. There will always be enough room and resources for the people God sends to earth. He will help someone come up with new methods of doing things that will accommodate more people if need be. we are the ones who prevent our own progress. We throw away so much food.

Has anyone else noticed the huge spike in multiple births lately? My personal opinion is that this is because less people are willing to have children and so those that are willing to have some kids- *Bam* multiple births. That’s the only way God can get enough spirits down here.

As for not being able to pay for children. It is the poor countries who have lots of kids and those kids seem to be well adjusted and happy. It’s the rich kids that have all the problems. So perhaps poor kids turn out better and are better able to deal with the world then the families who can afford kids and don’t have them. Who’s to say what a kid cost? history has always shown all levels of poverty to still have and provide for children. But I believe that God will not send children without a way to provide for them.

oh on birth control- it is between the couple and God as well. some couples prefer none- some use all sorts of methods for various reasons. Unless it is an abortion method such as morning after pill -which is taking a life- (and then there are exceptions to the rule)(ex: incest, rape, health of mother, etc.) abortion is said to be like murder.

{editor’s note — please remember that comments reflect the personal thoughts of the commenter and don’t necessarily reflect the positions of the Church or of the More Good Foundation}

Bawesomeb, for the record the morning after pill does not take a life… It prevents an embryo from being able to implant on the lining of the uterus. If it has already implanted the pill does nothing. I am very anti abortion (personal opinion) but I dont think the morning after pill qualifies to be in the same category as abortion. It works similarly to other methods of birth control but is very last minute of course.
As for not having enough food and water… I can’t remember where it is but I heard it in relief society one day something to the affect that if we do all that we can God will make up the rest…. I wish I could remember where it was… Hmmm

Maybe the LDS folks have misintrepreted the “We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force.” Perhaps this means that, as God’s children, the multiply and replenish statement commands us to creating more diciples and believers and not procreation.

Dawn, everyone has the opportunity to study out and pray about the teachings of those we declare to be living prophets. I can see why you might interpret that phrase this way (and I do think there can be different meanings to that phrase…for example, you might enjoy this talk by Julie B. Beck, who is a former worldwide leader of millions of women in our women’s organization: http://svu.edu/speeches/education-conference/2013/julie-b-beck). I actually have been thinking a lot about the word ‘multiply’ and what that can mean.

But make no mistake about it. The interpretation about procreation being a key part of marriage is central to our doctrine. To us, it is not a mistake or misinterpretation.

Wow! I am offended by several of the comments on here and I am not a Mormon. Mormon couples choose to have large families because they value family. How big or small their family is, is truly not our concern. If you asked your grandparents or great grandparents about their families, I can assure you the majority were from VERY large families and that is of ANY religion or no religion at all. People used to have very large families. It was not out of the ordinary for someone to have 8 kids. Now, people are so appalled by it and have the audacity to make a comment about how they afford them. They take care of their kids. You will notice she never even got ugly with you after responding to your rude comments. That is because her mom raised her to treat others and she would like to be treated, a simple value your mothers failed to instill in you who made those comments. Shame on you! No matter what religion or none at all, you should have a shred of decency and kindness toward another person. To criticize women of a certain religion because they choose to have large families is religious persecution and makes you a Bigot!

For those talking about poverty, water, etc, I was born and live in a third world country, certainly belonging to a poor or rich family has nothing to do with your values, neither becoming from a large or small family. But For what I can experience in my country, most of the poor people are having children in a uncontrolled manner, these children become criminals early in their lives, but for those who are a large, poor, mormon family it’s another story, in some way they deal to have many children, teach them values and provide their needs, even though most of poor mormon families actually have a different perspective and decide to plan for their lives and have less children, if all families would be mormon in my country, this would be such a different place. A child can imply expenses, but the first and most important things they need, God gave them for free: love and breastmilk, I think God wants to send us a message with that, even if a child is born in the middle of nowhere, the mother will have milk for them. And what about unplanned pregnancies? Even if we decide to have no kids, God can make it happen. But I want to make clear for all non-mormons out there: we are not taught to have many children, we have no obligation to have them, we can decide, use contraceptive methods and have the children we can have, but I am the one who thinks that I will have as many children as my economy lets me, that means if I can provide for only one children, I will have only one, if I can provide for seven, I will have seven, and that is where free agency comes along with RESPONSIBILITY.